4 comments:

It looks as if this is the long-sought resolution between Pelling's Milan thesis, and Rene's Imperial thesis.

If (as it looks) the Milanese painter had access to, the manuscript, he could have brought it with him, given the Italian binding. Doesn't prove Rudolf owned it, but that it was in the artist's reach by 1566 when "The Librarian" was painted. It may have been his own possession - but at the time, Rudolf was only 12 years old!

The same artist painted Rudolf's portrait only twenty years later (c. 1590-1). So yes, it was an Italian-bound work to which a Milanese painter had access, and who may have owned it (and perhaps left it) in Prague. Very fine find, Ellie. Should I cite you as original finder?